William sailer



'WILLIAM SAILER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent .Nn. 81,298, dated August 18. 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLAMPS.

the fiththule referral: to in time 3mm; haunt ant mating part of the same.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM shim, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an- 'Improved Joist- Clamp; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in what are commonly known as joist-clamps; and the improvernent consists in making the clamp self-fastening, by providing itat its opposite ends with lugs or projections,

having sharp or serrated edges, which, when the clamp is turned laterally by pressure at one end, will bite into the opposite sides of the joist, and firmly hold the clamp until the pressure upon it is removed.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and. use my invention, I w'll now proceed to describe its construction and operation, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is an inverted plan view of my improved clamp applied'tc ajoist or beam.

Figure 2 a side view of the same, and

Figure 3 a perspective view, showing the object and operation of theinvention.

The operation of fitting flooring-boards together is one of considerable labor, as they have to be forced laterally until perfect and close-fitting joints are obtained. I s

The ordinary de'vices used in this operation are objectionable, on account oi the complicated and expensive fastening and operating-devices connected therewith.

By the use of my improvements, which I will new describe, the'sc'o'bjections are overcome.

On-reference to the drawing- I a A represents the metal clamp, and X the joist, to which it is applied. 4

The body or centhe portion, a, of the clamp is plain and tint, and rests upon the upper edge of the joist, and at each end of the clamp, and projecting downward on each side of the joist, is a lug or lip, b, which has sharp, serrated edges, c, and inclined faces, cl, at right angles to the body a of the clamp.

The clamp has also at each end enlargements or-heads,ff, which project somewhat above the portion a, and the roughenedfaces g of which point in opposite directions.

It will be readily seen that, when the clamp is placed upon the joist, as seenrin figs. 1 and S, anypressure upon either of its heads,f, in the direction of the arrows, will have a tendency to turn the clamp upon thejoist until its serrated edges, c, bite into the latter and effectually hold the clamp, and the greater the pressure. the firmer will this hold become.

When the clamp is in its position, a simple wedge, 31, driven between the lug f and the plank, will force the latter to its place. I

The instant the wedge is removed, the clamp may be detached by striking a blow on the rear side of'thc projection b.

I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent- V A clamp, consisting of a bar, a, upon which are projections, b d, serrated at their edges, and lugs ff, the

said clump being adapted for use in connection with a wedge, y, substantially as described.

The clamp A, consisting of a bar, a, upon which are lugs,ff, and projections, 11 b, serrated at their inner edges, the said lugs and projections being arranged as and for the purpose described. I

p In testimony whereof, Ihavc signed my name to this specification in the presence of twgsubscribing witnesses.

' WILLIAM SAILER. Witnesses Win-A. STEEL, C. B. Pawn. 

